Easter Course 2025

Tuesday 9th April 2025 – Tuesday 16th April 2025

Moulton College, Northampton, NN3 7RR

Our venue is Moulton College (click for more information).

The timetable of the course is available here (PDF).

The Application Form is available here (PDF).

For ERC 2025 we will have the following shops with us (located in Thomas Harrison and The Barn):

Anthony Barrett Recorder Repairs  www.barrettrecorders.co.uk

Early Music Shop  www.earlymusicshop.com

Julie Dean  www.recordershoplondon.co.uk   

Annabel Knight  https://ak-music.co.uk/  (in the Barn)

David Moses https://www.tinderboxmusic.co.uk/david.html

N.B. The college has 24hr security so it is not possible for us to make arrangements for outside customers to visit the shops.

The Course

Recorders for All is a not-for-profit organisation with Pam Smith as musical director and Jan Epps as secretary and administrator. The course will begin with registration from 4:30 pm on Wednesday 9th April and finish with lunch on Wednesday 16th April 2025. For non-residents the course will start on Thursday 10th April at 9:15 am. Course participants must be at least grade 3 standard on both C and F instruments, one of which must be tenor or bass; ideally, we would like all course members to play bass. If you need advice please contact Jan:

moc.liamgnull@75sppe.naj or 01752 417093.

Orchestral playing has always been an important element at ERC and we will be running a main orchestra and a chamber orchestra for the whole week. 

The main orchestra this year will be an eight-foot orchestra consisting of  tenors, basses, great basses, contrabasses and subs. A few big basses will be available to borrow as well as Yamaha f basses and comfort tenors. It will be conducted by Pam Smith and she will allocate parts based on the instruments you are bringing to the course, as listed on your application form. Please indicate if you would like to borrow an instrument.

The chamber orchestra at ERC has had various guises over the years with sometimes as many as 16 players but in 2025 we will be returning to the original idea of a one-to-a-part orchestra and will be limited to just 12 players. This orchestra will be conducted by Mary Tyers. If you wish to be considered for chamber, please give at least three choices of instrument from: sopranino/descant, treble, tenor, bass, great bass, contrabass/sub.

Each day will start with a range of classes on a particular aspect of music or recorder technique. Annabel will be taking the music of Van Eyck as a starting point. Using The English Nightingale and O Sleep as models she will work on technique, characterisation and sound as well as exploring the background and other settings of the tunes. There will be the opportunity to look at how divisions are created from ground basses and how these are used in consort music. Mary will be Spinning the Sound: our focus will be on developing tone and the use of breath to create expressive, singing phrasing. Repertoire: The slow movements from Telemann’s four sonatas Der Getreue Musicmeister.  Additional material may also be provided by the tutor and simple but effective ornamentation will be introduced.

 Brian will be your tour-guide for a musical journey around Europe while David will be taking you further afield with his Samba-Car-Rumba workshop. (See notes below)

SAMBA-CAR-RUMBA

Many recorder players love the sounds and rhythms of music from the Caribbean, Cuba and Brazil but find the rhythmic notation challenging to read. All three musical traditions have evolved from the same African root so have a lot in common. 

Building on what you already know as an ensemble player this week-long technique class will help to build your confidence in interpreting and working out quite complex rhythms (not only Afro-Caribbean but everything from unbarred renaissance to contemporary music).

In addition to his detailed worksheets, David uses variable speed backing tracks to help get the authentic feel of different musical styles as well as arrangements specially written for recorders, using rhythmic patterns learned from the work sheets.

The arrangements will involve larger instruments, but treble, tenor or bass will be needed for the bulk of the teaching. Participants need to have achieved high grades in “Musical Enjoyment and Having a Go”.

In addition to these ‘set’ groups, each day there will be a varied selection of ensembles with a wide range of musical periods and styles, including: gemshorns with Janice; renaissance facsimile with Pam; an exploration of the music of Lance Eccles with Josef; the opportunity to try a baroque flute with Mary; double-choir repertoire throughout the week and much more. We are particularly excited this year to welcome James Risdon who will be tutoring all day on Saturday and this will include his Memorisation Workshop on Saturday afternoon – some of you may remember the zoom version he did for us during lockdown.

There will be a tutti session each evening, conducted by one of the course tutors. On the last evening there will be an informal concert, showcasing the two orchestras. 

In addition to a separate application form we have also included a rough draft timetable to give you an idea of the sessions. The first session after lunch has been split into two different sessions following feedback that some people found the session too long. By splitting the session, you can go to both or you can take a break if you wish. A music list and further details will be sent out shortly before the course.

Unfortunately, due to the tight security at Moulton, it is not possible for outsiders to visit the shops during the course. The shops are solely there for the course participants.

Tutors:

The Application Form is available here (PDF).

How to enroll on the Course

If you would like to enroll for ERC 2025 please complete all sections on the separate application form.

Payment can be by cheque to ‘RECORDERS FOR ALL ‘ or by BACS with your name as the reference.

BACS details   Bank: HSBC    Account name: Recorders for All  

                        Sort code: 40-17-10 Account number: 02369214

 The residential package will be £852 and non-resident including all meals except breakfast £523 plus £34 for the last morning including lunch.

Cancellation Policy

Recorders for all is not liable for any losses incurred if you have to cancel your booking for any reason. You are advised to take out insurance in case you are unable to attend. If Jan is able to fill your place you will receive a full refund less a £10 administration fee.

Application form and payment should be sent to:
Jan Epps 35 Furzehatt Rd, Plymstock, Plymouth PL9 8QX

Email:   moc.liamgnull@75sppe.naj            Tel: 01752 417093

Shortly before the course you will be sent a detailed timetable, music list, travel directions and general information.

CLOSING DATE for applications is 20 January 2025

Please note: the information in this brochure is correct at the time of printing but may be subject to alteration if circumstances change.